License Conversions

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Licence Conversion Information

Private Helicopter to Commercial Helicopter

For helicopter pilots with their Private Licence who wish to convert to a Commercial Helicopter Licence.

Admittance Requirements

To be eligible for enrolment into the Commercial Helicopter Licence Conversion program, you must submit the following:

Copy of your current Private Licence – Helicopter
Completed application form – request this from the Student Coordinator
$500.00 application fee

Licensing Eligibility

After being accepted into the program following the Admittance Requirements above, the student must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a Commercial Licence Conversion – Helicopter:

18 years of age or older
Upgrade to a Category One Aviation Medical
Provide proof of your previous flight experience

Program Requirements

After meeting the Licensing Eligibility above, the student must achieve the following requirements to successfully obtain their Commercial Licence – Helicopter:

Pass the Transport Canada written conversion exam – CPHEL
Pass the Transport Canada flight test – completed with a certified flight test examiner
Minimum 40 hours of ground school instruction
Minimum 60 hours of flight training, this can be done in any of the aircraft below for the associated hourly rates:

Robinson R44 – $965.00/hr +HST
Bell 206 Jet Ranger – $1,360.00/hr +HST
Ground Instruction – $97.25/hr +HST

* Should you hold a valid night rating for helicopter, you will require a minimum 5 hours dual flight time acquired at night to be valid for commercial helicopter, in addition to the 60 hours of conversion flight training

Aeroplane to Helicopter - Private

For aeroplane pilots with their Private Licence who wish to convert to a Private Helicopter Licence.

Admittance Requirements

To be eligible for enrolment into the Private Helicopter Licence Conversion program, you must submit the following:

Copy of your current Private Licence – Aeroplane
Completed application form – request this from the Student Coordinator
$500.00 application fee

Licensing Eligibility

After being accepted into the program following the Admittance Requirements above, the student must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a Private Licence Conversion – Helicopter:

17 years of age or older
Valid Category Three Aviation Medical
Provide proof of your previous flight experience

Program Requirements

After meeting the Licensing Eligibility above, the student must achieve the following requirements to successfully obtain their Private Licence – Helicopter:

Pass the PSTAR exam to hold a helicopter Student Pilot Permit – allows an unlicensed student to fly solo under training supervision
Pass the Transport Canada written conversion exam – PHRAC
Pass the Transport Canada flight test – completed with a certified flight test examiner
Minimum 20 hours of ground school instruction
Minimum 30 hours of flight training, this can be done in any of the aircraft below for the associated hourly rates:

Robinson R44 – $965.00/hr +HST
Bell 206 Jet Ranger – $1,360.00/hr +HST
Ground Instruction – $97.25/hr +HST

Aeroplane to Helicopter - Commercial

For aeroplane pilots with their Commercial Licence who wish to convert to a Commercial Helicopter Licence.

Admittance Requirements

To be eligible for enrolment into the Commercial Helicopter Licence Conversion program, you must submit the following:

Copy of your current Commercial Licence – Aeroplane
Completed application form – request this from the Student Coordinator
$500.00 application fee

Licensing Eligibility

After being accepted into the program following the Admittance Requirements above, the student must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a Commercial Licence Conversion – Helicopter:

18 years of age or older
Valid Category One Aviation Medical
Provide proof of your previous flight experience

Program Requirements

After meeting the Licensing Eligibility above, the student must achieve the following requirements to successfully obtain their Commercial Licence – Helicopter:

Pass the PSTAR exam to hold a helicopter Student Pilot Permit – allows an unlicensed student to fly solo under training supervision
Pass the Transport Canada written conversion exam – CHRAC
Pass the Transport Canada flight test – completed with a certified flight test examiner
Minimum 20 hours of ground school instruction
Minimum 60 hours of flight training, this can be done in any of the aircraft below for the associated hourly rates:

Robinson R44 – $965.00/hr +HST
Bell 206 Jet Ranger – $1,360.00/hr +HST
Ground Instruction – $97.25/hr +HST

* Should you hold a valid night rating for aeroplane, you will require a minimum 1 hour dual instruction and 1 hour solo flight time acquired at night to be valid for helicopter, in addition to the 60 hours of conversion flight training

* Should you hold a valid instrument rating for aeroplane, you will require a minimum of 5 hours dual instruction of instrument flight time to be valid for helicopter, in addition to the 60 hours of conversion flight training

Foreign Conversion - Private Licence

For pilots who hold a valid Private Helicopter Licence in a country other than Canada who want to convert to a Canadian Private Helicopter Licence.

Admittance Requirements

Applicant must be lawfully admitted to Canada for flight training – Visit the Immigration Canada website at www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp for more information on how to apply for a Student Visa. Then proceed with the application to the closest Canadian Embassy representing your native country found at www.international.gc.ca. We will produce a letter of acceptance that you must provide to Immigration Canada. In order to expedite this document, kindly provide copies of the following:

Copy of your current valid Private Helicopter Licence
Completed application form – request this from the Student Coordinator
$500.00 application fee – $100.00 is due prior to issue of letter of acceptance for Embassy. The remaining $400.00 and a copy of your student visa are due upon acceptance from Immigration Canada
Valid passport
Proof of eligibility for student visa (see above)Health Insurance for the duration of your studies – please visit www.uhip.ca or www.jckcip.com

Licensing Eligibility

After being accepted into the program following the Admittance Requirements above, the student must meet the following requirements to be eligible for Private Licensing:

17 years of age or older

Category Three Aviation Medical completed by a Certified CAME (Canadian Aviation Medical Examiner)
- Take a look at the Transport Canada website for the requirements to pass your exam HERE
- Find a CAME near you (or in Ontario when you arrive in Canada) to book your exam HERE

ALPT (Aviation Language Proficiency Test) score of “operational” or higher. Completed by a certified examiner in Canada – contact your Student Coordinator to book the phone appointment

Provide proof of your previous flight experience

Program Requirements

After meeting the Licensing Eligibility above, the student must achieve the following requirements to successfully convert their Private Helicopter Licence:

Pass the PSTAR exam to hold a Student Pilot Permit
Pass the Radio Licence verbal and written exams
Pass the Transport Canada final written exam – PPHEL
Pass the Transport Canada flight test – completed with a certified flight test examiner
Your previous flight time is fully credited. Should you require ground instruction or flight training to help prepare you for the written exams and flight test, this is available for an additional cost listed below:

Robinson R44 – $965.00/hr +HST
Bell 206 Jet Ranger – $1,360.00/hr +HST
Ground Instruction – $97.25/hr +HST

Accommodations

North Bay offers a variety of affordable, safe and conveniently located housing opportunities for international students. This includes Canadore College Residence at https://www.canadorecollege.ca/experience/residence, Kijiji at https://www.kijiji.ca/b-for-rent/north-bay and Off Campus Living at https://ocl.nipissingu.ca. Your Student Coordinator is happy to help arrange accommodations before your arrival, and are welcome to utilize the services of the North Bay and District Multicultural Centre at www.nbdmc.ca.

Foreign Conversion - Commercial Licence

For pilots who hold a valid civilian Commercial Helicopter Licence in a country other than Canada who want to convert to a Canadian Commercial Helicopter Licence.

Admittance Requirements

Copy of your current valid Commercial Helicopter Licence
Completed application form – request this from the Student Coordinator
$500.00 application fee – $100.00 is due prior to issue of letter of acceptance for Embassy. The remaining $400.00 and a copy of your student visa are due upon acceptance from Immigration Canada
A valid passport
Proof of eligibility for student visa (see above)
Proficiency in the English Language: pass the TOEFL, IELTS and CAEL exams – please visit www.etscanada.com / www.ielts.org / www.cael.ca
Health Insurance for the duration of your studies – please visit www.uhip.ca

Licensing Eligibility

After being accepted into the program following the Admittance Requirements above, the student must meet the following requirements to be eligible for Commercial Licensing:

18 years of age or older

Category One Aviation Medical completed by a Certified CAME (Canadian Aviation Medical Examiner)
- Take a look at the Transport Canada website for the requirements to pass your exam HERE
- Find a CAME near you (or in Ontario when you arrive in Canada) to book your exam HERE

ALPT (Aviation Language Proficiency Test) score of “operational” or higher. Completed by a certified examiner in Canada – contact your Student Coordinator to book the phone appointment

Provide proof of your previous flight experience

Program Requirements

After meeting the Licensing Eligibility above, the student must achieve the following requirements to successfully convert their Commercial Helicopter Licence:

Pass the PSTAR exam to hold a Student Pilot Permit
Pass the Radio Licence verbal and written exams
Pass the Transport Canada final written exam – CPHEL
Pass the Transport Canada flight test – completed with a certified flight test examiner
Your previous flight time is fully credited. Should you require ground instruction or flight training to help prepare you for the written exams and flight test, this is available for an additional cost listed below:

Robinson R44 – $965.00/hr +HST
Bell 206 Jet Ranger – $1,360.00/hr +HST
Ground Instruction – $97.25/hr +HST

Accommodations

Academic Supports

Helicopters Canada works closely with you and as a team to ensure you meet all performance criteria of flight training, ground school and operational courses as required. It is our personal and professional goal as flight instructors, ground instructors, line pilots and maintenance personnel to support our students through the process of their training, helping them achieve their first job in Canada and follow them through their career as a Canadian Commercial Helicopter Pilot.

Foreign Conversion - Instructor Rating

For International Commercial Helicopter Pilots with their Flight Instructor Rating who wish to obtain their Canadian Flight Instructor Rating.

You must first obtain your Commercial Helicopter Pilot Licence Canadian Conversion

Then, you must meet the Flight Instructor Rating requirements for a Class 4.